The Gate

LU is focused guiding for seeing there is no real, inherent 'self' - what do you understand by this?
The separate self is an illusion.

What are you looking for at LU?
I want to truly see and experience that there is no separate self. I want to go through the major shift often referred to as awakening. I don't want to temporarily see this. I want the permanent realization of no inherent self.

What do you expect from a guided conversation?
I expect the guided conversation to be engaging and carry me through to my own realization of no inherent self. I want to be challenged and guided through the process of seeing through the self. I expect regular and frequent engagement to allow my awakening to unfold.

What is your experience in terms of spiritual practices, seeking and inquiry?
I have been seeking for many years mainly through reading books. I recently came upon the idea of awakening in my seeking exploration and have done some inquiry and been meditating on and off for 12 years about. I find inquiry challenging but the seed of awakening has been planted. I had one experience which was of total oneness that lasted 24 hours but faded. I used to journal and journaling brought about this instance of seeing through the veil of the separate self.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how willing are you to question any currently held beliefs about 'self?
11

had one experience which was of total oneness that lasted 24 hours but faded.

Watch these, please:

https://youtu.be/vJQcD588g2w

and

https://youtu.be/PUDzrCLlrj4

This is just a beginning. The first steps. Clarity requires maintenance. Lather, rinse, repeat


My name is Stacy and I can be your guide, if you would like.

One thing that is helpful is to come to this forum
& post every day. Sometimes the site goes down. It will be back. Just come back later.

Yes, if once in a while you must post later, please post a note telling me when you will return.

If you haven't already read the disclaimer, please read it now and just confirm to me that you have read it. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/disclaimer-2/

Also please read “Liberation Unleashed is not …” in the FAQ’s of LU. Here is the link.

http://liberationunleashed.com/about/faq/#faq-1041

Some housekeeping guidelines:

1. Post at least once a day, or every second day. If you need more time, or are unable to post for several days, just write a quick post on your thread to let me know please.

2. There is no one judging answers given, so please be 100% honest in your answers and inquiry.

3. This exploration is based on actual experience (AE) - smell, taste, sound, sensation, color and observed thoughts. Long-winded analytical and philosophical answers are best avoided and may even hinder progress. This is not a self-improvement process. There is no ‘self’ to improve.

4. Put aside all other teachings, philosophies, rituals, practices, books/reading and so on for the remainder of this investigation. Really put all your effort and attention in to seeing this reality, as it is. If you have a daily meditation practice, it is fine to continue that but is not necessary for this exploration.

Technology is not perfect and sometimes there is a glitch which can wipe out your responses. It is advisable that you copy and paste questions asked into Word, answer them there and then copy and paste them to your thread. Always save a copy of what you have done, it will save time in the long run!

To begin with, so that we both become aware of what your expectations are about this exploration. In your own words (not from actual experience, but just honest answers), could you please answer the 4 following questions:

How will life change?
How will you change?
What will be different?
What is missing?

Throughout this exploration I would like you to answer all questions that I have written in blue text. Please answer all questions even if I miss using the blue text.

Please answer questions individually, remembering to use the quote function to highlight the question being answered.

Below is a link to the video with instructions on using the Quote Function. Please watch it. Use the PREVIEW button to make sure your text looks right before you hit "SUBMIT."

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660

What would you like for me to call you? What time zone are you in, please?


Loving,

Hello Stacy,

My name is Jazzmina. I am deeply grateful to be here. I have watched the two videos and read the requested sites. I agree to the terms and conditions of Liberation Unleashed. I am deeply grateful to be here. Thank you for being willing to guide me.

The video on how to use the quote function did not work so I will do my best to figure out this forum and will watch the video when it’s available.

I live in Hawaii- HST time zone.


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How will life change?

To be completely honest I do not know. I think it will be both a matter that everything has changed yet at the same time everything is the same in a weird way. I expect that life will be experienced differently. How exactly- I do not know.


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How will you change?

I’m not sure exactly. I expect my physical form won’t change much but inside will be different in some way. In what way- I really don’t know.


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What will be different?

Everything and nothing. I’ll still have the same life in the same place doing mostly the same things I think but they’ll be a shift in some sense and it will feel different perhaps.


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What is missing?

Noting. Life is complete, I just don’t see it yet.


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Hi Jazzmina,

Your expectations are fairly reasonable.

Please reply in ONE POST, using the Quote Function, explained here:


Please answer questions individually, remembering to use the quote function to highlight the question being answered.

Below is a link to the video with instructions on using the Quote Function. Please watch it. Use the PREVIEW button to make sure your text looks right before you hit "SUBMIT."

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=660


Now what comes up when reading that there is no separate self, never has been, and never will be? That the whole thing was a made up story that we believed.


Loving

Thoughts come up that say that seems too simple and I don’t see it yet.


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Thoughts come up that say that seems too simple and I don’t see it yet.

Yes, that's why you're here.

It is very simple.

This is how to LOOK for no self in the exercises - we call them "pointers' - that we will be doing here:

Colored Socks

There is a big difference between knowing that there is nothing to give up and seeing that there is nothing to give up.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference:

If I ask you what color socks you are wearing right now you have two ways to come up with an answer:

• You can think about it, you can think back to this morning and try to remember putting your socks on, and you can probably tell me what color you think they are.

• Alternatively, you can take a quick look at your socks and tell me what color they actually are!

Hopefully you would agree that you can only be 100% certain by looking.

For the purpose of seeing this "no self" idea, it is very important that you are clear about this difference.

Knowing is about knowledge which is all in the mind and we are not interested in that

We are only interested in looking at and seeing what is actually going on in your present moment-to-moment experience. We are only interested in your Direct Experience in the moment..

Direct or Actual Experience is

Seeing
Hearing
Feeling (Sensation, not emotion. Emotion is Sensation plus made-up thoughts & labels)
Tasting
Smelling
Thoughts Arising (but not their content)

Please let me know if you are clear about this or if you would like any further clarification.


Loving,

I am very clear about that. Thank you for the helpful example.


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You're welcome. Now try this:

Direct Experience - Labeling Daily Activities

Here's an exercise that I would like you to try as many times throughout the day as you can. Label daily activities simply color/image, sound, smell, taste, sensation, thought.

So for example, when having breakfast, become aware of:

Seeing a cup, simply= image/color
Smelling coffee, simply = smell
Feeling the warmth of the coffee cup, simply = sensation
Tasting the coffee, simply = taste
Hearing the spoon stirring the coffee, simply = sound
Thought about drinking the coffee, simply = thought

Just break down daily activities into these categories (which are all Actual/Direct Experience) and report back with lists exactly like the one above.

Post several of your own observations in a list *exactly* like the one above, please.

Refer to the green list of Actual/Direct Experience in the prior post if that helps. Those are the only items any experience can be.

Loving,

Seeing my dog lie on the bed= image/color
Hearing my stomach growl= sound
Feeling growling in my stomach= sensation
Feeling the comforter on my skin= sensation
Breathing in= sensation
Seeing the window curtains= image/color


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Those are good. The point is to distinguish Direct (or Actual) Experience from Thoughts & labels.

I don't see any thoughts. Could you please do a few more?

Loving,

Yes of course!

The fan whirring= sound
Thinking about Christmas 4 years ago= thought
The mountain out the window = image/color
The taste of coffee = taste
Heart beating= sensation

Hand touching leg= sensation
Glasses slipping down my nose= sensation
Thoughts about wishing my nephew happy birthday= thought
Breathing in= sensation
Looking at the pillows on the chair= image/color


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